Check-punch



(No Model.)

' I'. R. AUSTIN.

GHEGK PLUNGH.

N0.434,496'.- PatentedAugQlwQ, 1890.

-UN'ITEDFSTATES *PATENTomer-.f "i

. tion and which form a part of this specificaits periphery the projecting cutting-dies c,

FRANK R. AUSTIN, OF TUCKERTON, NEW'JERSEY.

CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,496, dated August 19, 1890.

Application filed June 1l, 1890.

To all whom' it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tuckerton, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Check-Punch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in checkpunches, such as are usedl for punching figures in the body of bank-checks, documents, l orthe like, in orderto prevent the altering or raising of amounts.

Among other objects, I have aimed to produce a check-punch which will combine simplicity of structure with portability, cheapness, and reliability of operation.

With these objects in view'the invention resides in the various novel details of construction and in the combination of parts, hereinafter fully described, shown in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

ln the drawings, which illustrate my invention throughout which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure l is a view of one side of my improved check-punch. Fig. 2 is a View of the other side. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the punch.

In the drawings, A A represent the handles of the punch, which are pivoted to each other at a and are held apart by a spring a in the ordinary manner. The handles are produced beyond the point of pivoting a to form the jaws B B. A disk or wheel C is vertically journaled to the upper jawB and has upon which may be of any configuration, but by preference are of such shapes as will cut the usual figures. Upon either side of the wheel C are face ratchet-teeth c', which incline in one direction, and c2, having teeth which incline in a direction opposite to that of the teeth c. The numbers of the teeth c and c2 correspond with the number of cutting-dies c. Upon the lower jaw B is revolubly mounted in a horizontal plane the die-plate D, in the upper surface of which are countersunk diebeds d. Upon the periphery of the die-plate D are slight indentations d', in which the spring-catch d2 upon the end of the jaw B Serial No. 355,064. (No model.)

catches. The die-plate D has on its under side a crown-wheel d3.'

E is a cog-wheel, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the crown-wheel d3. rlhe said wheel E is fast upon a shaft e, which is journaled in the lower jaw B. This shaft e also has fast upon it the pinion-wheel e', which meshes with the cogs on the ratchet-wheel F.

F is journaled to the lower jaw B by means 6o of the shaft f, and upon its outer face are ratchet-teeth f G is a pawl of bent spring metal, having one end fastened to the upper jaw B, and the free end g, which is beveled, engaging the ratchetteeth f on the cog-wheel F.v H is a similar pawl fastened to the lower jaw B', having its 'free end beveled and engaging the ratchetteeth c2 of the wheel C. Upon the other side of the wheel C are ratchet-teeth c', which in- 7o cline in adirection opposite to that of the ratchet-teeth c2, and these ratchet-teeth c are engaged by the spring-pawl I, which is similar to the other pawls Gr and H.

It will be evident from the foregoing that every time the handles A are caused to approach each other the wheel C will be turned a distance equal to thatbetween the ratchetteeth c2 by means of the pawl H, and having been thus moved the pawl I will prevent 8o backward motion. In other words, as the number of ratchet-teeth c2 are equal to the number of cutting-dies another die will be in position for cutting. At the same time and by the same closing of the handles A the dieplate D will be turned a distance equal to that between the die-beds d by means of the pawl G moving the cog-wheelJF, and the cogwheel F transmitting the motion thus received through the train of gearing above 9o described to the said die-plate. The spring-l catch dz holds the die-plate from accidental movement by springing into one of the indentations d at the completion of every closing of the handles. It will be seen that having once arranged the cutting-dies c to register with the countersunk die-beds CZ they will always continue so to register as every movement of one is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the other.

' The operation of my punch is very simple. A check is drawn, say, for seven hundred and fifty-nine dollars. To prevent the raising of this amount my check-punch is used. The paper is placed over the die-bed din the dieplate D, which is marked 3, and the handles closed together. This cuts in the paper an opening of the shape of a dollar-mark. The punch is now closed a suiiicient number of times to bring the die-bed marked 7 under the corresponding cutting-die and the paper replaced between the two a little to the right of the dollar-mark. The same proceeding is gone through with for the 5 and the 9, and finally the dollar-mark is again cut to the right of the last figure, and alteration is prevented.

Having thu's fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Ina check-punch,thejawsandthecutting- Wheel vertically mounted upon the end 0f one ot the jaws so as to be capable of rotary motion thereon and being provided with face ratchet-teeth on either side, said ratchetteeth on one side being in a direction opposite to those on the other side, in combination with the die-plate horizontally mounted upon the other jaw, the ratchet-Wheel E and a train of gearing connecting said die-plate with the ratchet-Wheel, and spring-pawls attached to the jaws for engaging with the ratchet-wheel E and the ratchet-teeth on the cutting-Wheel, whereby the cutting-wheel and the die-plates are moved in unison, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a check-punch, the cutting-wheel C, vertically mounted upon the ends of one of the jaws so as to be capable of rotary motion thereon, the said cutting-Wheel having upon its periphery cutting-dies and being provided with face ratchet-teeth on either side, said ratchet-teeth on one side being in a direction opposite to that on the other side, in combination with a die-plate D, horizontally mounted upon the other jaw, said die-plate having die-beds to receive the cutting-dies on the cutting-Wheel which corresponds thereto and being provided with indentations upon its periphery with whicha spring-catch engages, a crown-wheel d3 upon its under side, the ratchet-wheel E, and atran of gear ing which connects the ratchet-wheel and crownwheel,and spring-pawls attached to the jaws for engaging the ratchet-wheels, Whereby the cutting-Wheel and the die-plate are moved in unison, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

`FRANK R. AUSTIN.

Vitncsses:

WATSON D. CRAMER, GEORGE W. AUSTIN. 

